Hospital Liens After a Fort Worth Crash
Short answer: If you went to a hospital within 72 hours of a crash, the hospital can claim part of your injury settlement for its bill. The lien covers care in the first 100 days, must be filed with the county clerk, and is limited to reasonable charges.
How a Texas hospital lien works
Texas Property Code chapter 55 gives hospitals and emergency medical services providers a lien on an injured person's claim against the person who caused the injury. It applies when you're admitted or treated within 72 hours of the accident (Prop. Code ch. 55).
Filing rules
To be valid, the lien must be filed with the county clerk of the county where the hospital is, before money is paid to you. If an insurer pays a settlement without paying a properly filed lien, the insurer can be on the hook.
Health insurance and the lien
If you have health insurance, ask the hospital to bill it. Hospitals sometimes skip your health plan and file a lien for the full price. A lien doesn't stop you from asking them to bill your insurance.
Fort Worth hospitals and the Tarrant County Clerk
Most serious Fort Worth crash injuries go to JPS Health Network on South Main Street or Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth. Both are in Tarrant County, so liens are filed with the Tarrant County Clerk, whose records you can search before settling.
Fort Worth contacts after a crash
Fort Worth police take crash reports inside the city. On I-35W, I-20 and Loop 820 outside the city, Texas DPS troopers or the Tarrant County Sheriff may respond instead. Once the officer files the CR-3, TxDOT usually posts it within about 10 business days (getting your report).
Hospital ERs: JPS Health Network (John Peter Smith Hospital), Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, Medical City Alliance, Texas Health Alliance.
Start with the Fort Worth first-steps checklist.
Common questions
Can a hospital take part of my settlement?
Yes, if it filed a valid lien under Property Code ch. 55 for care within 100 days of a stay that began within 72 hours of the crash.
Can I negotiate a hospital lien?
Yes. It's limited to reasonable charges, and hospitals often reduce it.
Want a lawyer to look at your case for free?
If you were hurt in a crash that wasn't your fault, in Fort Worth or anywhere else in Texas, you can ask for a free consultation. A trusted local attorney will contact you promptly and evaluate your case for free. There's no cost to ask and no obligation.